Man in court for alleged neglect of girlfriend’s child

A 32-year-old fashion designer, Kingsley Okeke, on Thursday appeared in an Evboriaria Magistrates’ Court, Benin, for allegedly neglecting a one-month-old child and assaulting the baby’s mother.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Alhassan Abu, said the offence was committed on November 2, adding that the accused unlawfully assaulted his child’s mother, Esther Thomas by giving her fist blows and slaps on her face, thereby causing her harm.

“The accused failed to give the necessary assistance to his girlfriend, who is the mother of his child without lawful excuse, as such endangering the life of the child she has for him.

“The accused and the complaint were lovers when the complainant took in but the accused denied responsibility when the pregnancy was months old.

“When the complainant gave birth a month ago, the accused person apologised to her and promised to take full responsibility for the child which he failed to,’’ the prosecutor said.

Abu said that the offence contravened sections 355 and 339 of the Criminal Code, Cap 48, Vol. 11, Law of the defunct Bendel State, 1976, as applicable in Edo.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.

The Magistrate, Mr Airemokharen Ihenyen, granted bail to the accused in the sum of a N200, 000 with a surety in line sum.

Ihenyen said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case till Dec. 12 for hearing.